"You can't refuse a request from a dying man." (Abe "Fish" Vigoda as Sal Tessio) "I'm not dead yet!" (Abe Vigoda as himself, addressing rumors.) This super trippy coffee shop kills it harder than Abe in "The Godfather" when it comes to delivering the goods! Heavenly vegan donuts, that is. Wait...wrong Abe? My sister and I are not vegans, but we stopped here for breakfast several days in a row on our way to the Mayo Clinic earlier this year purely out of curiosity. It was really helpful in the ordering process to see the various pretty donuts labelled and strung above the counter. We purchased almost all the flavors to bring to the hospital for our family to try, and the consensus was that the ube and the plum lime were possibly the most delicious donuts we've had anywhere! Honestly! Other outstanding flavors included the tiramisu, the banana stand, and the blueberry crumble. As delightful as the donuts were, I was disappointed in my drink orders. I could only get through a few sips of both my dirty chai latte and the Almond Joy coffee. Old Abe gives some hardcore psychedelic vibes to the point that I wondered if a hallucinogen had been slipped into my coffee before heading into the ladies' room. 1,000 cats hissing at you from the walls will cause you to question your sanity! The rest of the décor was just as wild, from THE Minnesota Prince to an apocalyptic Godzilla declaring that the end was near. The question "1880's stage actor assassin or the bear" might apply in the polka dot room, so it's best to sit facing out with your back against a wall...regardless of which Abe the shop is named after. If the apocalypse, John Wilkes Booth, wildlife, the Chief of the Waponis, or the mob takes me out to sleep with the fishes, and I come back in my next life as the leader of a subversive cult, I'll have to revisit the book room of this shop to view their anarchist primers. Also, I'm sending these donuts to McConaughey as a bribe. He's a fan of Lincolns, so maybe he'll do an Old Abe commercial where he contemplates the meaning of life while noshing on a ube donut. Penny for your thoughts? read more

See all

I finally decided to stop in after so many recommendations from my fellow peers, and I must say I was extremely disappointed. There was an older gentleman at the display case, probably the owner, and a few younger gals working. After entering the store, we were greeted by no one, just quick stares. When ready to order, it took more than ten minutes to be acknowledged, bummer. The coffee was okay at best, but the donuts were amazing! Probably the best in Rochester. We sat downstairs, but we've heard the staff tell other customers that there were saying upstairs. After finding a seat and people watching, we noticed that the staff were much more attentive to other customers. It's hard to not feel like this was a race-based issue, esp being the only minorities in the shop. Either or, I guess it was an experience, I don't plan on visiting again. I'll stick to Cafe Aqui-- they've got great coffee, delicious snacks, wonderful staff and a welcoming atmosphere. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Almond Joy latte! Blueberry cobbler donut & peach cobbler donut. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I found this place on Yelp doing a search for highly rated reviews. They were rated very well so I stopped in to check them out. Sorry to burst all those bubbles but overall the experience was underwhelming and did not quite live up to the plethora of awesome reviews. After some discussion with staff, most of which are young, 1 was engaged, others were not. I opted to pick 3 of the vegan donuts (eclaire, blueberry, and strawberry sprinkles) and later I realized that I should have gotten the cinnamon sugar. Reason is - what I noticed about these donuts are they are all the same exact base donut, the only difference is the icing they put on it. So after a bite of each one I got a bit fatigued due to the same flavor donut, and the icing is important because if the icing isn't dominant enough then it just feels like 3 similar donuts. Hope that makes sense but had I gotten the cinnamon I think it would have been a better experience. They are a bit pricey too. I think nearly $9 for just 3 donuts and that is quite high, and overall lacked the wow factor. I got the Korean Bowl per her feedback that it was the most popular and it was "sooo good". I thought this dish was aesthetically pleasing and colorful, and loved the fresh veggies and the rest of the content, but overall it fell short of expectations for me. A bit premium priced I wanted less rice and more veggies and vegetarian meat. I think I got about 3 tablespoons of the good stuff and I was left a bit underwhelmed, and yet I had plenty of rice leftover. I just felt there is a bit skimping and penny pinching here on portions of the good stuff and they add extra rice to make the dish look to be in abundance. I was very unsatisfied. Finally - the coffee I got - it was one of the cold mocha coffee drinks and it was not good. I love coffee, drink it daily, and this stuff tasted like sugar water flavored with coffee. It lacked that flavor and depth that coffee beans usually give you. It just felt like I was drinking sugar water after a few sips and I couldn't finish it. Not a quality experience at all, just tasted cheap. So yeah, 2-stars = Could Have Been Better, and it most certainly could have been. Had the service been a bit more attentive and friendly and accomodating, then it would be a 3-star experience, but improvements there could be made as well. I just felt like the staff was preoccupied and running around and somewhat disorganized even though they were not very busy. Speaking to another customer they said the sandwiches were solid but I can't say I will be rushing back to try it as the pricing here is on the premium side and nothing I had lived up to the expectations. read more

This was so worth adding an extra 30 minutes to go out of my way to pickup lunch before a 5+ hour drive back to Chicago. My vegan colleague told me it was a must-try, and I concur. The banh mi is indeed amazing. I had never had any banh mi before, but it was so good. I went with the "bacon" option and it was super tasty. Also, it was massive. Great portion size. My only regret is that I didn't go here for dinner the night before, because it would have made for a good dinner and leftovers. It was a bit hard to eat in the car on the drive back, so sadly I didn't get to finish it. The chips were also great. I also got two donuts (maple and the blueberry) to go. I inhaled the blueberry donut about 3 hours into the trip somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin, and the maple I managed to save until the next morning (I kept it in my fridge and then microwaved it for 10 seconds and it was delicious. I had to fight off my carb-obsessed cat, because she wanted it for herself). I will be back every time I'm in Rochester, probably multiple times per trip, and I will be buying a half dozen donuts (at least) to bring back home with me. I am eagerly waiting for the next work retreat just so I can come here. It's really that good. read more

See all

Quirky, fun little cafe featuring a vegan food menu, mostly vegan donuts (Drift Dough), and good coffee. My husband and I were in town visiting his parents, and we initially stopped in for the vegan donuts (I have an egg allergy, but am also vegetarian) and got a coffee to wash them down. Both the donuts and coffee were delicious, and it makes me happy to see an iced coffee that isn't more ice than coffee for once! We sat inside, with a view of what looks like a cute outdoor seating area, but since it seems like some pickleball courts have opened up next door, I imagine it would have been a bit noisy outside; can't hear the pickleball from the inside, though! We decided to grab some lunch items to go because they looked really interesting. My husband got the tofu banh mi and I got the salmon bowl, and they were both delicious! I really like the flavors in the salmon bowl, and the half rice half spinach base was just right for me :) Overall, very cute spot with lots of tasty veg-friendly food, so we will absolutely be back next time we're in the area! read more

Old Abe immediately jumped to being my favorite restaurant in Rochester. The faux meats are exceptional (without being heavy-handed about replicating meat) and the sauces are flavorful but light. My only gripe would be a desire for a higher ratio of salmon to other ingredients in the bowl. Also I think they should prepare the spinach in some way, even just a light sauté to make it mix better. But overall it's an excellent meal and I wish I could bring it with me to San Francisco. Additionally, the staff is extremely nice and the atmosphere is bright and airy. Strong recommend! read more

Old Abe Coffee - Spicy Salmon Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Lovely little shop. Surprisingly larger interior than I was expecting and has patio space for better weather. The staff are very helpful. The menu has plenty of options for coffee, drinks, donuts and entrees. I tried the Korean BBQ bowl since everyone seemed to recommend it. I got a to-go box. Everything was biodegradable packaging. The bowl was hefty and tasty. I do wish there was more sauce. The bowl was a bit more dry. I'm excited to come back to try the coffee, smoothies and donuts! read more

See all

Took a beer-centric trip to Rochester and finally stopped by Old Abe since they're one of the better vegan/vegetarian places I've ever had. Cute cafe in an old house with counter service and small tables throughout the main floor and upstairs. Very hip, but welcoming ambiance. They make most of their stuff in house, including an awesomely rotational lineup of vegan donuts. Got the Banh Mi with their "pork" and it was probably tied for top vegan "meat" sandwich I've ever had. Soft, flavorful baguette that has a nice crunch to the exterior. The aioli was excellent and brightened up the rest of it. The star was the house pulled "pork" that was very much like Chinese pork floss but much more tender. It'll definitely be my go to for takeaway when I'm the Rochester area. read more

See all

I wish I had time to come back and have the donuts! I had a salmon bagel. But not your ordinary salmon. Imagine salmon from a can but mixed with some spices and I think light mayo. Add it to a bagel with some nori. It was truly a different take on a salmon bagel but I really liked it. Coffee was great as well. So many other choices I would have like to try the Bahn Mi as well. The best part was meeting Abe himself there. If you enjoy the expression of love and creativity in your food the go to Old Abe's. Breakfast, lunch or anytime. So much more to offer than what I mentioned here. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Spicy Salmon bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

THE BEST VEGAN FOOD IN ROCHESTER!! Absolutely LOVE this place, it's a kinda small interior with some outdoor seating but it's 100% worth it. I've never had a problem with any of my orders and I've gone here too many times to count. Vegan sandwiches to donuts and coffee, I wish more restaurants in Rochester were like this but this will do for now. Even a great option for non vegans so everyone can enjoy their meal, a park is also nearby so it's perfect for the warmer months. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Really nice, very casual, all-vegan cafe/coffee shop, with coffee and non-coffee beverages, bowls, sandwiches, and breakfast bagels. They're famous for the their banh mi, so I ordered that with the "pork" ($11 -- prices include tax). The sandwich came out in about 5 minutes. Very large sandwich, with a generous amount of "pork", cucumber, carrot, daikon, and jalapenos (not spicy at all), all served on a fresh, French white bread, with some potato chips on the side. Really solid banh mi, authentic enough; the "pork" has a great texture and is on the sweet side, but in keeping with the rest of the flavours. Real nice stuff. I was happy and would definitely return if in Rochester. read more

Something for everyone. Coffee and donuts are great but also drinks for kids. The food an also great. Not a ton of seating so I'd recommend picking up to go read more

Very good doughnuts! Service was friendly. Overall great place to spend a weekend morning. I also ordered a BLT in addition to doughnuts. As a non vegan I would definitely not get this again (as I am comparing everything to real bacon), but it was ok. read more

Came w my dear friend who is Vegetarian. This is an all vegan place. It's cute and can be busy. We ordered a bagel sandwich and a Kung Pao bowl. The fake pork or fake chicken in the Kung Pao was tasty but your results may vary. Cool staff. Very polite and good at recommendations. read more

See all

Really good food that was actually mind blowing. I usually am around this area for my frequent car washes during the winter but never made it to Old Abe until this past weekend. Ordered - Banh Mi (5/5). Wow - this tastes identical to a cold cut Banh Mi. From the mayo to the textures of the pork to the veggies and crunchy baguette, this was really really good. Don't forget some crispy baked fries to wrap it all together - Citrus Ribs Rice Bowl (5/5). So tasty. It has a very tangy orange chicken-like texture and flavoring that worked so well with the peas, brown rice, and corn. The portions were large so it served as lunch for the next day too Excited to visit and try these dishes again and also see what other menu items that is worth exploring! read more

Old Abe Coffee - Delicious Vegan Food (5/5) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

My friend and I drive to Rochester as a halfway point once a month for a girls day and always like to try new places. I found Old Abe through here on Yelp and let me tell you.. it did not disappoint, we will definitely be coming back! The Bahn Mi (we did the pulled pork version) was sooo delicious..omg! I can see why it gets the excellent reviews! The Korean BBQ Bugolgi Bowl was also super tasty! So fresh, great texture and crunch. Yum! We both planned to take some home but ended up sitting there visiting for a couple hours and devoured it all. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Banh Mi Sandwich Korean BBQ Bugolgi Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

LOVE THIS PLACE! Vegan restaurant with great vibes and great staff. Service was fast but great quality, too. Food was amazing! Ordered the "salmon" bowl and ribwich sammy - it was all delicious! Shocked by how tasty the vegan "fish" was! Will definitely go back when we drive through Rochester next. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Love love love this place !! Their Vietnamese Banh Mi is a must try !! The sauces are delicious and the plant based pork meat is juicy and delicious. Their Vegan donuts are yumm! I tried the Ube donut. Their smoothies are fresh and healthy as well. A must visit place for people who love and dont love vegan food. Must try the Banh mi ! read more

See all

DO NOT COME HERE !!!! RACISM AND RUDE!!! Following the lasted posted review my cousins and I had a terrible experience during our visit. The staff seemed uninterested in providing good service and were openly rude. When we asked about vegan options, their responses were curt and condescending. We decided to dine in, but while waiting for our food, we were given two chai lattes--one of which had coffee added, even though we had requested it be caffeine-free due to one of my cousin's sensitivity. As I had walked back inside to have our drinks remade, I was assuming a complete understanding demeanor from the workers but it was the complete opposite of rudeness and frustration in the air. We apologized for the mix-up with the other drink, but when my cousin asked for a decaf chai, the staff rolled their eyes and displayed clear irritation. When the lattes were brought to our table, they were slammed down roughly. Things got worse when a staff member rudely told us that our dog, who had been allowed in on previous visits, was no longer welcome unless it was a service animal. Later, when my cousin asked for tissues, the response was sarcastic: "Well, we have napkins." We couldn't ignore that we were the only people of color there and felt we were treated with a noticeable lack of respect. Given Rochester's reputation for friendliness, we were shocked by our experience at Old Abe's. We won't be coming back and advise others to avoid this place, especially if you're from an ethnic background. For a truly welcoming environment, try Aqui's Coffee Shop instead. read more

DO NOT COME HERE: RACIST AND RUDE. I wish I could give this establishment a -5 star review if it were possible. As a tourist visiting this place, I was shocked by the unwelcoming attitude of the staff, who seemed to just want to get through their shifts without any regard for customer service. When we were ordering, we weren't familiar with the vegan options, and as we asked questions, we could sense their frustration. Their responses were curt and filled with a sense of condescension. We decided to dine in and, while waiting for our food, received two chai lattes--one of which had coffee added, despite being ordered non-caffeinated due to my sensitivity to caffeine. The other was a misunderstanding on our part, for which we apologized. When I went back inside to request a decaf chai tea latte, the staff visibly rolled their eyes and gave off an air of irritation, despite my sincere apology. A few minutes later, one of the workers brought the lattes to our table and slammed them down as my cousins had was slightly in the way. To make matters worse, the same worker with dirty blonde hair rudely informed us that our dog, whom we had brought on two previous occasions without issue, was not allowed inside unless it was a service animal. When I later asked where I could find tissues, she rolled her eyes and sarcastically replied, "Well, we have napkins." I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it was hard not to notice that we were the only people of color in the establishment, and we were treated with a noticeable lack of respect. Given that Rochester is known for its kindness and welcoming atmosphere, I was shocked by the way my family and I were treated at Old Abe's. We definitely won't be returning, and I do not recommend this place to anyone--especially those of color or from an ethnic background. On the bright side, I highly recommend visiting Aqui's Coffee Shop, where we experienced a genuinely welcoming and friendly environment. read more

Best place in Rochester! Very nice staff. We had donuts, smoothies and a dirty chai latte. Came in too early and the kitchen wasn't open yet. Will have to come back for the food. Super cute space! read more

See all

Tried the chicken salad sandwich today, it was delicious, would recommend! The flavor was reminiscent of a non vegan version I use to make, loved the cranberries. read more

Was in Rochester today for work. My intention was to stop here between appointments. Time snuck up on me and I stopped here after 3 p.m. I searched Bahn Mi sandwiches on yelp in Rochester and this place has Vegan Bahn Mi sandwiches. I ordered the Vegan Bacon Bahn Mi. I saw some donuts, and selected Ube and Coconut Lychee ones, all to go. This place is funky and eclectic. My choice of veggies instead of chips were sliced cucumbers and edamme. I ate about half in my car. The bread was crusty, type thick Bahn Mi. Not soft and chewy. There was Vegan bacon, cucumber, cilantro, daikon radish and julienned carrots in it. The mayo was a spicy mayo. Overall good, but the bread was a let down. I tried a bite of each donut and they were good. I bought 2 stickers for $1 each. A cow with outline of cuts that all said none and a cat in the shape of MN. The bathroom had wild paint job inside. I'd stop again and order something else. The girl who took my order was nice. I feel like a rube calling the donut ube. It's ubay. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Nope on the cuts of beef and MN cat sticker. $1 each. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I had a lovely experience at Old Abe! I was visiting from out of town, and found this vegan place - everything was delicious, the staff were very helpful (and tolerant of my silly mood), and even gave us a sandwich they prepared by accident. The coffee drinks were delish, they even accommodated my need to have something not too sweet or coffee-ish. The atmosphere was very fun, and even the random reading materials where we sat were sweet and fun. Highly recommend Old Abe! read more

Love this place. Was staying close by and had to try it. So worth it! Their food is so healthy and delicious. Loved the Korean BBQ bowl and their donuts. It's so refreshing to see such a quaint little place with such flavorful food! Thank you for all your hard work and great service. Will definitely stop by soon. read more

I really hoped this place would be a 5 star venue. That, sadly, is not the case. However, the food is very good and, if I was just awarding points for food, it would score a full four. So what went wrong? The first thing we noticed is the front door. Outside it is grubby, inside it is filthy from hand prints, spilled something or other and, generally, it is obvious that any thoughts of cleaning for COVID, simply does not cross their collective minds. The menu is hand drawn on bits of paper, plastered above the kitchen/ reception area. It is difficult to take in and wouldn't do an elementary school kid any credit. Anyway, we had been looking forward to this and pressed on. The food we ordered was very good albeit the receptionist/order taker/cellphone surfer forgot to omit the cilantro and add jalapeños as I asked. We sat down at a small table and waited for our drinks. The atmosphere is very cafe-ish, and the dated hippy vibe was passé in the extreme. I repeat the vegan food was very good. But then, a toilet visit was necessary. The floor was filthy, the sink was equally foul and the wall above the towel dispenser would upset even the most stoic of health inspectors. Indeed, if either of us had ventured into the toilet before ordering, we would have left, simply because a lack of appropriate hygiene does not begin and end in the toilet. Finally, we considered the 15% tip. Clearly it was given so that miss could continue to give her full attention to her phone. So in summary, as a restaurant it's barely a 2. The food, although missing the custom requests, was a four. On average therefore, it's just about a three and, as such, not a place we would recommend...especially if you are concerned about hygiene. There are far, far better vegan options in Rochester. read more

Their hot chocolate with almond milk is to die for, specially this time of the year All their sandwiches are made fresh and with perfection!!! My husband is not even vegan and he adores and always ordered the Korean BBQ bowl Pastries are almost impossible to stay away read more

We like this place mostly for the Drift Dough donuts on Sunday morning as well great coffee!!

What a treasure...and found while on a bicycle ride! Just down from Cooke Park (and the bike trail), we thought this was just a lil coffee stop...until we parked the bikes in the convenient bike stand and went inside. It has a very nice outdoor seating area, that we couldn't get to because our 19 month old rider found the kid room first. The Almond Joy coffee (served on ice) was like eating an Almond Joy! We got the Onigiri to go, which was enough for 2 people! I loved it! read more

See all

What a great find! My typical stop was closed so Yelp came up with this venue as a vegetarian friendly option. I ordered a Korean spiced bowl and an Almond Joy espresso drink...and loved them both. Cute place (converted house) with friendly (and speedy) service...for a fair price. Outdoor seating also available. Definitely coming back. read more

Old Abe Coffee - Korean spicy bowl and Almond Joy iced drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

The place is relatively small and the service is really bad they got my orders wrong it was really expensive and not even worth it the food was stale the coffee is really nasty. read more

Food was amazing! The bahn mis were very good. My favorite was the pulled pork and then the tofu. The bacon was a touch too smoky but still delicious. The citrus ribs were incredible and all the flavors and textures went together perfectly. The donuts were pretty good. The guava was excellent, maple very good, and the blueberry was very average. Overall, fantastic experience. read more

My go-to place. Love the Bahn mi sandwich and the Korean bowl. Service is fast and the vegan donuts are great. I love the kitschy atmosphere and the laid back vibe. Prices are great too. read more

Delicious rice bowls and sandwiches, all vegan! The food is very tasty, even for non-vegetarian diners. read more

See all

Always great food and coffee. Everything vegan, which I love. The ambiance is really cool. Reminds me of Minneapolis.

We visited way back in '18 and it was good enough to warrant taking the time to pen (thumb?) a review to give them the attaboy they deserve. At the time, my wife and I were Vegan, so we found Old Abe Coffee on Yelp, advertised as offering Vegan menu items. I ordered some sort of short rib poke bowl. I took a bite. Wow, this is so good...wait...oh crap...I'm eating meat...I accidentally cheated! Noooo! Etc etc You would have thought we were filming a commercial because I took my bowl back to the counter and said, "I'm so sorry, I must have misunderstood the menu. This is incredible, but I'm currently not eating meat. Do you have any Vegan menu options?" They told me with a big grin, "that is Vegan." It was that good. read more

Delicious! Great amount of food for the money, and always fresh and good quality ingredients! Friendly customer service and quick timing for pick up order. For the Citrus Ribs and the Spicy Salmon entree, an order of the "extra sauce" was perfect to help keep the dish moist. Also opted to have brown rice for salmon dish as it is usually served with spinach-for sure the perfect substitution! If your skeptical about vegan dishes, give Abe's a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Old Abe Coffee - Bahn Mi sandwich (left), Citrus Ribs (top), Spicy Salmon (bottom), Grilled Cheeze (right). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

We moved to Rochester a year ago and stumbled upon this little gem. Being vegans, we have limited options here but we're thankful to have found this place. Food is excellent. My favourite are the poke bowls and Onigiri ( sushi/wrap). The menu is fairly limited and the have the same options always. They have started introducing weekly specials and I'm looking forward to trying more new dishes. They have a huge play area and my toddler loves it!!! read more

See all

The BEST vegan donuts!!!! Always fun flavors and so delicious. Love this place!!!! Wish more places had vegan options like this.

First time trying vegan food and it is better then non vegan food in my opinion. The staff is extremely nice and makes you feel at home, and has a great sense of humor. The whole ambiance of the business is a plus too!! Highly recommend, I will be becoming a regular! read more